US President Joe Biden ready to talk to his Chinese counterpart Today at 1 p.m. GMT, where they are expected to give a warning Xi Jinping If Beijing shields fellow authoritarian ally Russia from intense Western sanctions aimed at punishing Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, it will face “costs”.
The two leaders’ first phone call since a video summit in November will be a chance to quell differences as the United States mounts an unprecedented pressure campaign on Russia, putting China in a geopolitical bind.
“This is an opportunity for President Biden to assess where President Xi stands,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.
It will be the first time the pair have spoken directly since Russia invaded Ukraine more than three weeks ago.
Washington warned that China was considering Russia’s military support for the war, a move that would dramatically widen the gap between Beijing and Western governments.
Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow and Washington, fearing that the Chinese may switch to full financial and even military support for Russia, fueling the already explosive transatlantic standoff in a global controversy. can change.
Beijing could potentially help not only weather Russia’s pressure on its banks and currency, but also Western governments’ decision to impose sanctions against China, which could lead to turmoil in world markets. .
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Biden would make clear that China would be responsible for whatever action it takes to support Russia’s aggression, adding “we will not hesitate to impose costs” during a news briefing in Washington.
Blinken said China has a responsibility to exercise its influence with Putin and protect international rules, but that Beijing appears to be “moving in the opposite direction”.
“We are concerned that they are considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine,” he said, officially confirming reports for the first time earlier this week that US officials were It was believed that China had signaled its willingness to provide Moscow with such. Cooperation.
Blinken did not elaborate on what that could cost to China, and Washington has yet to provide evidence of the claim that China has indicated a willingness to help Russia.
Moscow has denied seeking military aid from China, and China’s foreign ministry has called the idea “disruptive”.